Letters to the editor: Feb. 11

Beneficial use and pleasurable appreciation. That's what I think of when imagining the multiple benefits the proposed Boone Creek Outdoor recreation area has to offer.

I believe this well-crafted, financially feasible investment in both our land and community can serve as a fine example of properly utilizing Kentucky's natural areas and providing ample educational and recreational opportunities for our nature-starved youth.

For those people who don't subscribe to Lexington's culture of "the laziest city in America" (Mens Health), this is the project we have been waiting on. I applaud Burgess Carey, the entrepreneur behind this project, for having the forethought to fill this wholly underserved niche.

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For opponents concerned with potential environmental degradation, his proven stewardship for the land came years ago when he cleaned up leaking fuel tanks from a former truck stop along Boone Creek, funded partially from membership sales, allowing access to the stream's intact fishery.

Therefore, remaining challenges to this project stem mostly from misunderstanding about the intent and equipment used and legal barriers unfortunately pegged on this project.

Zip-lines and hiking trails are a far stretch from loud generators powering carnival music and roller coasters.

Therefore, I hope city officials and neighborhood associations opposing this project can overcome these differences and understand the true value of Carey's efforts in bringing outdoor recreational opportunities to the Bluegrass region.

Kevin Devine

Shelbyville

One-sided war

For decades the rich have been getting richer as everyone else has had declining wages and benefits. Rich corporations lay off thousands of workers and then give themselves million-dollar bonuses.

That's not class warfare, that's class abuse. It is not warfare until the lower classes start fighting back.

When you hear Republicans and the super-rich complain about class warfare, remember that they want a return to docile lower classes who are willing to let the rich abuse them; they don't want us fighting back.

It is only warfare when both sides are fighting.

William Hurt

Lexington

Embrace the monster

It would be unthinkable to get rid of any part of the three-headed monster referred to by Coach John Calipari: the games with the University of North Carolina, Indiana University and University of Louisville.

These games are against traditional powers with which we should continue to have court battles.

UNC is right behind the University of Kentucky in all-time wins. They enjoy the rivalry as much as we do. Indiana has always been a thorn in UK's side and should be dispatched from our borders by an annual game that dates back to the days when the Baron was our coach.

U of L hates being the "little brother" to UK and has a chip on its shoulder that needs to be reckoned with on a yearly basis.

The Big Blue Nation wants and needs these games as part of the UK schedule. If you ask the BBN, say take a survey, the BBN would tell you to eliminate some of the powder puff teams that we always play instead of one or two of the three-headed monster.

Marty Fields

Lexington

Poor response

I was dismayed but not surprised by the lack of positive response by Republican members of Congress to various statements made by our (and their) president during his State of the Union message.

If a statement like "there's nothing Americans cannot do" doesn't get applause from our esteemed Sen. Mitch McConnell, what on Earth would?

It seems to me this is the height of partisan hypocrisy: Preaching that America is the best in the world, but denying it with lack of applause when it is stated by a president who is a member of the opposing party.

I guess this is just another stage in McConnell's strategy of "our first priority is to make Obama a one-term president" plan.

Jonathan Morris

Busy

Worker favoritism

We continue to see how much more important state workers are than we normal people who work everyday.

They had to have a holiday off to celebrate the inauguration of the governor.

This is in addition to the fact that they get almost twice as many holidays, sick days and vacation days as the average Joe and Jane workers. These government employees are people who contribute nothing to the economy and are a drain on the taxpayers.

Oh, well, if they are off from work, the only damage they are doing us is drawing pay for the time off. They are not drawing up new regulations and laws at home.

Donald R. Fugette

Lexington

Set some limits

We need a new kind of public servant. The Founding Fathers didn't expect our representatives to make lifetime careers in Washington.

The current system encourages isolation from reality back home, susceptibility to corruption and excess influence by lobbyists.

Too much time is spent running for re-election instead of tending to the people's business.

Six years should be enough time for Congress members to fulfill their civic duty and to come home and live under the laws that they have enacted.

Michael Fenstermaker

Versailles

Never mind

Sunday I read in your newspaper about a man who would like to be the leader of our nation. I had planned on trying to help him with my vote. However, he has now lost it by saying, "I'm not concerned about the very poor."

I suppose that in his arrogance he feels that the very poor have no say-so in this matter of selecting a leader.

I am not in the class he speaks of, but neither will I vote for a man who does not believe that all men are created equal.